Improved washing-machine



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE YV. LINN, OF LEE CENTRE, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVED WASHINGMACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,.GEORGE W. LINN, of Lee Centre, in the county of Lee and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Washing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

Figure l is a central vertical section of my improved machine; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the shaft and arms detached, and showing the clothes wound around the arms in the act of washing.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

My invention consists in the combination and arrangement of horizontal arms with a vertical revolving shaft provided with adjusting-holes in such a manner that the said arms may be changed from one position to another, higher 0r lower, and adjusted in and out, to adapt them to the winding of the clothes around them, for washing in a suitable tub or receptacle,'substantially as hereinafter described.

As represented in the drawings, A is a suitable tub or receptacle, having a cover, B. ln this cover is centrally mounted, projecting downward, a vertical shaft, C, sustained at the top by a cog-wheel, D, with which gears a vertical cog-wheel, E, actuated by a lever, G. The shaft() reaches nearly to the bottom of the tub, but has no bearing there. It is provided, at suitable distances apart, with adj Listing-holes a a at different positions from the bottom to the top, in any of which holes fit arms H H. By this arrangement it will be seen that any desired number of arms may be employed, and that they may be placed at any desired position in the shaft.

In washing, the cover and shaft are taken from the tub, and the arms H arranged or adjusted in a suitable manner, and the clothes are then wound around the arms, as indicated by the red lines in Fio. 2. The cover is then adjusted in place on tbhe tub, and the lever G actuated so as to reciprocate the shaft. By thus winding the clothes around the arms I arrange them in the best manner to receive the action of the water, for by this means they can be equally and exactly distributed around the shaft and made to retain that position, whereas if thrown loosely into the tub they soon become crowded into a heap through which the water cannot easily pass.

I am aware that a vertical shaft, with a single set of horizontal arms situated on a line, and that set of arms adjusted up and down, have before been employed; but smh a device is not adapted to the use that mine is-viz., to winding the clothes around the arms at different positions.

In order to wind the clothes around the arms, it is necessary that the latter should be situated one above another, and at irregular relative positions. It is also essential that the position of these arms may be changed. For instance, if the clothes are large or heavy it will be necessary to occupy all the space of the tub, and the arms must be distributed at intervals from the bottom to the top, as shown in Fig. l; but, on the contrary, if the clothes are small and light, and there are but few of them, it is desirable that but few arms be employed, and that these be situated near the bot-tom, so that but little water be tm ployed in the tub. This is also easily accamplished. Furthermore, in adjusting the clothing it is often desirable that the arm should be longer on one side than the other-as, for instance, in winding a heavy article of elothing which presents a preponderance on one side. This effect is accomplished by drawing the arms out on one side, as indicated at the top in Fig. l.

It is obvious that a single set of arms, having the same relative horizontal position, can only be employed to give motion to the body of clothing that is thrown loosely into the tub, and is not adapted to winding the clothes around them and adjusting in such a manner as will adapt them to the occupation of light or heavy clothes.

It :is apparent that my device, above described, may be used with the clothing not wound around the arms, but thrown loosely into the tub, and under some circumstances I design using the machine in this manner.

I do not claim, broadly, a vertical shaft with horizontal arms for giving motion to the clothing, as l am aware that the same has before been employed; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to In witness whereof I have hereunto signed secure by Letters Patent, is my name in the presence of two subscribing The combination and arrangement of the Witnesses.

adjustable and changeable arms H With the GEO. W. LINN. holes a a of the shaft C, and used in eonnee- Witnesses:

tion with the tub A, substantially in the man- EDGAR GALLOWAY,

ner and for the purpose herein set forth. JOSEPH M. CARY. 

